Inking mechanism



Oct; 23, 1934. M. A. DROITCOUR 1,977,793

' INKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 27. 1931 4 SheetsSheet ,l

INVENTOR .5 @Q 5. w c A H E G m Q. OW A Oct. 23, 1934. I M. DROlTCOUR1,977,793

INKING MEGHANI SM Filed. Feb. 27, 1931 4 SheetsSheet 2 9 INVENTORM/CHfiEL H. DRUIYCOUR Oct. 23, 1934. M. o cou I 1,977,793

INKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 27. 1951 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V E N TO RICHHEL HDm/rcou/e BY m5 ATvTORfiJLz/L Oct. 23, 1934. M. A. DROITCOUR IINKING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 2'7, 1931 INVENTOR Mama :4DRO/TCOUR fizl fllfl N BY HIS ATTO Patented Oct. 23, 1934 ED STATESPATENT OFFICE INKING MECHANISM Michael Andrew Droit'cour, GlevelalidOhio, as- Signor to Harris-Seybold-Botter Company, v Cleveiand, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Application February '27, 1931, Serial'No.518,632 11 Claims. (01. 101-357) My inventionrelates to improvements inprinting machinery, and is more particularly directed to improved inkingmechanisms therefor by which the ink is delivered to the inking rolls of1.5 the printing-press in uniform and regulated quantities. The objectsof my invention are, among other things, to provide an improved inkingmechanism actuated from the press whereby the ink '10 distributingrollers which carry the ink to the 29 inking rolls are readilyaccessible for cleaning or readjustment, and may also be removed orreplaced without disturbing in any way the operating mechanism wherebythe ink distributing rollers are rotated and vibrated relatively to oneas another in timed relation with the press.

-.A further object isto provide an improved mechanism whereby thevibration of the ink distributing' rollers relatively to one another maybe regulated from zero to maximum according to requirements by means ofa sliding block COI'IIIBC'. tion adjustable in the actuating cam-leverand the rockarm connected with the vibrating mechanism'inconjunctionwith releasable means to disconnect the vibrating mechanism when the inkdistributing rollers are lifted outof their operation contact with theinking rolls of the press. Furthermore I have provided novel means forsecuring the proper vibration of the distributing rollers so arrangedthat the roller surfaces do 4 notreturn over the same path as in theirforward stroke thereby eliminating objectionable fghost- 1ng.

A further object-is to provide a continuously rotating fountain rolloperating in coaction with the oscillating ductor roll with novel meansfor operating the ductorso that it will initially contactwith thefountainroll along the same peripheral line on the latter in each cycleof rotation of the fountain roll. My specific embodiment of such meanscomprises the useof a differential double cam for oscillating the ductoralways to bring same into contact with the fountain roll at the samerelative line as just mentioned, but varying the dwell for controllingthe duration of contact by adjustment of the differf ential cam forlifting theductor with means for so shifting such cam, all of which maybe accomplished while the press is .in operation.

With these and other objects in view, my invention comprises certainconstructions hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out inthe claims. A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the inkfountain stand and associated inking mechanism in relation to the inkingrolls as embodied in a fiat-bed printing press;

' Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ductor operating mechanism located back ofthe fountain roll at the left end of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; Fig[ 5 isa sectional view of the differential cams taken on the line 5--5 of Fig.3;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1; N

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the inker carriage retracted from itsoperative Fig. 1 position with the mechanisms for vibrating thedistributors and oscillating the ductor disconnected;'

, Fig. 8 is a detail sectional View on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring, to the drawings, the side frames 10 and 1 1 ofthe-presssupport the impression-cylinder 12 and the reciprocatingformebed 13 in the usual way. The shaft 14 of the cylinder 12 isjournalled in the sliding blocks 15 (one being shown in Fig. 1) held inthe slots 16 in the sideframes 10 and 11. Resting on the bottom of theslot ,16 is the-pin 1'7 having its upper end extending into a. holedrilled in'the block 15 and surrounded by the compression spring 18 heldbetween the collar 19, and head 20 of the pin 17.

i The upperiend of the block 15 carries the rockshaft 21 to which issecured thetoggle levers 22 and 23,,the lever 23 rocking against theadjustable plate 24 slidably held in a fixed position in the slot 16 bythe adjusting screw-bolt25. Affixed to the, shaft 21 is the arm 26towhich is pinned, the vertical rod 27 pivoted .to the rock arm 28pinned on the shaft 29 in the side-frame 10. The shaft 29 carries therock-arm. 3 0 to which is pinned the cam-bar 31 sliding in the bracket32 secured to the side frame 10. The

bar 31 has the cam-roller 33 riding on the cam 34 fast to the cam-shaft35 journalled in the sideframe 10 to actuate the cylinder 12 in relationto the bed 13. In Fig. 1 the cylinder 12 is shown in off impressionposition; when the bar 31 moves to the left, the toggle levers 22 and 23are straightened to bringthe cylinder 12 into printing contact with thebed 13 in the-usual-way.

The cam-shaft 35 is driven in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) by the gear36 engaging the gear 37 on the shaft 35, the gear 36 being actuatedthrough the intermediate gear 38 driven by the gear 39 on the stub shaft40 journalledin'the' side frame 10. The shaft 40 carries the. pulley 41driven by the belt 42 actuated from the=electric motor 43. c

The ink fountain 44 holding the ink-supply is mounted on the movableinker carriagelfi located .isthe slotted arm 109 in which slides themovabove the side-frames 10 and 11. The fountain 44 carries the fountainroll 16 which is continuouslyrotated'by. the gear 47 'fastto thefountain roll shaft 48, the gear 47 engaging'the intermediate gear 49which engages the gear 50 on the cam-shaft 51. j The gear 50 isdriven bythe gear 52 on the shaft'53 journalled' in the carriage 45, The shaft 53has pinned thereto (Figs. 3 and -4) the bevel gear 54 driven by thebevel gear' 55-on the top'of the vertical shaft 56 journalled in thecarriage 45. T I i The lower end of the shaft 56 carries the clutchmember 57 having the slot 58 off center of the shaft 56, the clutchmember 57 being adapted to be engaged by the clutch member 59 pinned tothe upper end'of the shaft 60 (Fig. 4) The clutch member 59 has the lug61 also off center relatively to the shaft 60 to engage in the slot 58when the. clutch members 57 and 59 are'in operative position as shownin'Fig. 4. This off-center construction enables the clutch to be engagedonly in one position in timed relation with the press. The shaft 60driven by the bevel gears 62 and 63, the gear 63 being'secured to thehorizontal shaft 64 which carries the bevel gear 65 engaging the bevelgear 66 on the. short shaft 67 which carries the bevel gear .68 drivenby the bevel gear 69 mounted on the'mai'n'camshaft 35; all asshown in 1.

Referring to'Fig. 1, the 'form bed13i's slidingly supported on thespaced-apart rollers 70 revolv ing in the carriage 71' on whichis'm'ounted the rack 72. The bed 13 isreciprocated in theusual way bythe gear 73'housedin' the carriage '71 which gear 73 engages the rack 74fast to the bed 13 and also therack7 t? secured to the sideframe 10;also fastened to the carriage '71 is rack 75 which engages gear 76secured to the shaft 77, the shaft 77 carrying thegear 78 thatjmfesheswith the main driving gear '79f'for the distributing "and inking vrolls. By this mechanism the inking mechanism proper isactuated from thebed 13 as the latterisreciprocated beneath the impression cylinder 12. jI j The form inking rolls 80, 81,82 and 83 are removably journalled inopen'bearings 84 mounted on brackets 85 (only one beingshown in Fig. 1)

securely bolted to'the press sideframe s 10 and 11. HThe four form rolls-83 are oscillatedin conjunction with .the printingsurfaceiof thefo'rm-bed'13 by being operatively connected with the" reciprocatingform-bed 13 by the gears '78 and 79 which engages the, gear 86. Thegear.86 is secured to one end of the shaft '87 of' the steeldistribu'tingroll 88"(Fig. 3), and the other end of the shaft 87 carries the gear'89,meshing with intermediate gear 90 which engages the tact with the ductorroller.

Means are provided for vibrating the distributing rolls 88, 93 and 97carried by the inker carriage 45 which are best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6,8 and 9:' The cam 103 on the shaft 35 has cut therein thecam-groove 104through which rides the cam-roller 105 pinned to the arm 106 pivoted onshaft 107 fastened to the side-frame 10 (Fig. 6),

Pivoted "on 'th'e'shaft 108 in the sideframe 10 able block 110 and stud111 to loosely hold the arms-106 and 109'in'predetermined relation-:tooscillate in unison underthe-influence of the'cam' 103. "The upperen'dof the .arm 109-is provided with the'hook 112 to engage the pm 113 inthe horizontal rack-bar 114. When the block 110 is moved downwardly inthe slotted arm 109 by the operator'until such block 110 is centered.on'the shaft 107, no reciprocating movement will be imparted to therack-bar 114; when-the block 110 is moved upwardly (Fig. 1) intheslotted arm 109, the movement of the rack-bar .114will be increased tomaximum. a 1 1 By this mechanism the amount of-vibration of thedistributing rolls 88, 93 and 97 may be variably adjusted from zero tomaximum to suit the requirements of the job on the press. Referring moreparticularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 9, the end of the rack-bar 114 engagesthe toothed sector 115 fastened to the'stub-shaft 116 journalledin thebrackets 1'17 and 118 s'ecured to'the side-frame 10- (Fig. 8). Pinnedtothe upper end of the shaftllfi is the segment disk 119 having the hole120 out therein to-be e'ngagedby the spring-pressed pin 121 carried bythe circular housing 122 fastened to the lever 123 f-ulcrumed on thestub shaft 124 carriedby the bracket 125 secured to-the side-framev 10.The lever 123' in its oppositely-disposed arms (Fig. 2) carries thepivoted-rollers 126 and'127 which engage .theflanged spools 1-28 and.129 fastened respectively to the shafts 92 and 9601? the distributingrolls 93 and97 (Fig. 2).- The spool 128 fits snugly to theroller 126 onthelever 123, but the spool 129hasa free annular space for the'roller127 to :move laterally beforeen'gaging-the flanges of the spool 129 fastto the shaft 96 of distributing roll 9'7.'.

Before the form-bed 13 reachesits extreme travel to the left (Figs. 1and 2),-the cam 103 reverses the movement of the arms of the lever 1'23and thedis'tributing-roll 93 immediately follows since there is no playbetween the flanges of the spool 128-for the roller 126; on. the otherend of the lever 123, however, the'roller 127- has room or play betweenthe flanges of the spool 1 29 so that the distributing roll 97 does notvibrate until the form-bed 13 has reached its extreme travel to the leftand isthereafter returning to the right.

The rack 130 looselymounted onthe shaft 96, but held againstlongitudinal movement-on this shaft by the collar 131,"engagesthe-'double-end segment 132 which engages-the rack 133'Ioosely mountedon the" shaft 87 ofthe roll 88, but held against longitudinalmovement onthis shaft 8'7 by the collar 134. Ey this mechanism the distributingrolls 88, 93 and 97 are variably vibrated through the mechanismheretofore described actuated by the cam 103.

Referring to Fig. 1 I have indicated several positions of the cam 103which makes one revolution for each cycle of the press: The 10 portionmarked A indicates the dwell of the cam when revolving during thereverse travel for the formbed 13, while the 30 portion marked Bindicates the reverse travel of the mechanism for vibrating thedistributing rolls 88, 93 and 96.

The ductcr-roller which is oscillated between the fountain roll 46 andthe steel roller 101 (Figs. 1 and 7) is mounted on the shaft 136 carriedat one end (Fig. 3) by the arm 137 pinned to the rock-shaft 138. Theother end of the shaft 136 is carried by the arm 139 adjustably pinnedto the shaft 140 to which is pinned to the arm 141 secured to the frontend of the rock-shaft 138 (Fig. 2), whereby a shifting of the axis ofthe ductor-roller 135 may be made by the pressman as desired relativelyto the steel roller 101.

The means for oscillating the ductor-roller 135 is best shown in Figs.1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: The camshaft 51 has pinned thereto the bevel gear 142and cam 143, the gear 142 driving the bevel pinion 144 housed in theworm-wheel 145, which pinion 144 actuates the bevel gear 146 havingkeyed thereto the cam 147, both gear 146 and cam 147 being free torotate on shaft 51.

The gear 146 is held in operative relation with the pinion 144 by thecollar 148 all as shown in Fig. 4. The worm-wheel meshes with the worm149 fastened to the revolving shaft 159 J'curnalled in the bracketbearings 151 and 152 mounted on the horizontal plate 153 of the inkercarriage 45. The outer end of the shaft carries the hand-wheel 154 asshown in Fig. 3. When the shaft 150 is rotated in either direction adifferential rotating relation is set up between the bevel gear 146along with the cam 147 and the cam 143. The ductor rock-shaft 138 haspinned thereto the cam-arm 155 carrying the cam-rollers 156 and 157 thatride on the cams 143 and 147 respectively, thereby causing the roller101 whenever theroller 135 shrinks in diameter.

Means are provided for tripping the ductorroller 135 to hold same fromits normal oscillating movements, best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7: Theductor rock-shaft 138 carries the arm 158 to which is pinned thedepending link 159 fulcrumed at 160 and having cut therein the notch 161which engages the housing 162 secured to the inker carriage 45 (Figs. 1and 2) and holds the ductor arms 137, 139 and 141 from swinging to theleft by the action of the spring 163 coiled around the shaft 138 andsecured to the collar 164 and ink fountain 44 (Fig. 2). The lower end ofthe link 159 engages the transverse pin 165 having the handle 166carried by the horizontal rod 167 sliding in the block 168 fastened tothe side-frame 10.

The end of the rod 167 is rounded at 169 to bear against the rod 27 andcam-collar 170 fastened to this rod 27 (Fig. 1). Ihe spring 171 fastenedto the block 168 and the pin 172 on the rod 167 normally pulls thelatter to the right (Fig. 1). When the impression-cylinder 12 is loweredby the rod 27 into printing contact with the form-bed 13, the cam-collar170 engages the rounded end 169 of the rod 167 and moves the latter tothe left (Fig. 1), thereby holding the link 159 from engagement with thehousing 162 whereby the ductor roller 135 may be oscillated and broughtinto contact with the fountain roll 46. When the press is tripped withthe parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, the cam-collar 170 does notengagefthe rod 167 so that. the link 159 is held latched in the housing162 so that ductorroller arms 137, 139 and 141 do not have a fullmovement (to the left Fig. '1), and the ductorroller 135 can not contactwith the fountain roll 46. i Y

, Means are also provided for manually looking the rod 167 againstmovement best'shown in Figs. 1 and 2: The upper part of the rod 167 hasthe hooked recess 173 which can be locked to the bracket 174 by raisingthe handle 166 when the rod 167 is moved to the left (Fig. 1)sufiiciently to unlatch the link 159 from the housing 162. Thismechanism will allow the ductorroller135 to contact with the fountainroll 46 even when the press is tripped. However when the press isstarted for printing, the cam-collar 170 pushes the rod 167 stillfurther to the left whereby the hooked recess 173 is disengaged from thebracket 1'24 and the spring 171 returns the rod 167 to the right for itsnormal position and operation.

When the operator wishes to ink up with the press tripped, the rod 167is hooked on the bracket 174, and no sheets are passing through thepress; when the printing starts, the mechanism automatically acts todisengage the rod 167 on the first sheet printed, and then thisautomatic throw-off for the ink supply from the ductorroller 135 isready for normal operation;

Means are also provided for raising and then retracting the inkercarriage 45 and the mechanism for operating the distributing rolls andductor roller which is best shown in Figs. 1 and 7: The carriage 45 isprovided with two sets of rollers 175 and 176 (only one set being shown)that ride on the top surfaces of the cam-bars 177 (only one being shown)supported on the roller bearings 178 and 179 and having the inclinedsurfaces 180 and 181 to engage the carriage rollers 175 and 176respectively. The under side of the cam-bars 177 have the racks 182engaged by the rack-gear 183 journalled on the shaft 184, the gear 183being driven by the gear 185 on the shaft 186 to which the crank-handle187 is attached. When the cam-bars 177 are moved to the right (Figs. 1and 7), the rollers 175 and 176 ride up on the inclined surfaces 180 and181 to lift the inker carriage 45'to disengage the clutch members 57 and59 and also the devices shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, whichcarriage 45 is then retracted by the following mechanism to its Fig. 7position: Fastened to opposite ends of the carriage 45 is the chain 188passing around the idler sprocket 189 journalled in the side-frames andalso around the drive sprocket 190 fast to the cross-shaft 191journalled in the brackets 192 at the ends of the side-frames 10 and.11. Secured to the shaft 191 is the crank-handle 193 which when turnedanti-clockwise (Fig. 1) will pull the inker carriage 45 and itsassociated devices back to their Fig. 7 position from their operativeFig. 1' pcs1 10H. 1.

. The operation of-my improved inking mechanism. has been heretofore setforth when describing the structural details of the embodiment shown,and may be summarized'in part as follows When the press is in normaloperation with the impression cylinder 12 raised and lowered by the cam34 and the form-bed 13 recipro'cated in the usual'way by mechanismoperatively connected with the gear 7 3, the cam 103 reciprocates therack-bar 114 to variably vibrate the distributing rolls 88, 93 and 96 bythe mechanism described and shown in detail in Figs. 2, 6, 8 and 9. Onthe other hand these distributing rolls as Well as the form inking rolls83 are rotated through the mechanism driven from the form-bed 13 throughthe gears 76, 78, 79 and 86, while the ductor-roller 135 is oscillatedby the mechanism connected with the main cam-shaft 35, but controlledfrom the throw-off of the 'press through the rod 167 and latch link 159.All of these actuating devices are releasably connected so'that thelifting and retraction of the inker carriage 45'(Fig. '7) willdisengagesame but without changing the timing of the various parts and theiractuating devices which are always maintained in proper relation to thepress mechanisms irrespective of the movements of the oarriage45.

The differential control for the two cams 143 and 147 (Figs. 3, 4 and5-) enables the operator, while the press is running, to variablycontrol the length of contact of the ductor-roller 135 with the fountainroll 46 and also determine the point of contact on the latter in itscycleof rotation which is of advantage to secure an even and uniform inkfilm on the ductor to be transferred to the distributing roll's'88, 93and 96 through the steel rollerlOl. I a

Changes and variations may be madein the construction shown anddescribed as one embodiment of my invention without departing from theprinciples of the invention or sacrificing its chief advantages, andhence my improved inking mechanism is not to be confined to theconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings.

I claim as my invention:'

1. In a printing-press inking mechanism, a plurality of ink distributingrollers, means for vibrating. same relatively to each other from zero tomaximum, and a single mechanism including a releasable connectiontherefor for causing the roller surfaces to move in different pathsduring their vibrations.

2. In a printing-press inking mechanism, a plurality of ink distributingrollers; meansfor vi- 4. In a prmong' press mechanism, ink distributingrollers, means for vibrating same including mechanism for causing theroller surfaces to move in different paths during theirvibrations, meansfor inaugurating the separate vibrations at different points in theirseveral cycles of operation, and means for adjusting said vibratingmeans for strokes of different lengths from zero to maxi- 5.1mm inkingmechanism for flat-bedprinting-presses, a reciprocating bed, inkdistributing rollers, means actuated independently of the bed movementsfor vibrating said rollers alternately and in different paths relativelyto each other and also to the bed, and means for inaugurating theseparate vibrations of said rollers at different points in their severalcycles of operation.

6. In an inking mechanism, a ductor-roller, means for oscillating sameincluding a pair of relatively adjustable arms supporting one end of theroller for shifting the axial alinement of the ductor-roller in-saidoscillating means. Y a

"I. In a printing-press inking mechanism, an oscillatory ductor-roller,means for tripping the press, and a'latch-link connected to saidductorroller and operated by a cam-actuated rod controiled lcy'saidpress tripping means for preventing'oscillaticns oi the ductor roller.

8. In a printing-press inking mechanism, an oscillatory ductor roller,means for tripping the press, a latch-link connected to saidductor-roller and operated by a cam-actuated rod controlled by saidpress tripping means for preventing osci1-. lations of theductor-rolier, and manually operated means connected with said link forallowing movements of the ductor-roller when the press is tripped.

9. In a printing-press inking mechanism, an oscillatory ductor-roller,means for tripping the press, anda latch-link connected to saidductorroller and operated by a cam-actuated rod controlled by said presstripping means for preventing oscillations of the ductor roller, saidlink being unlocked when the press is moved to impressione 10. In aprinting-press inking mechanism, press inking rolls, a rotary fountainroll, an oscillating ductor roll, ink distributing rollers, sepratemeans for rotating and vibrating same, horizontally-slidable cam-barsfor lifting all of said rollsand rollers onsaid cam-barsexcept saidpress inking-rolls to an inoperative position without disturbing thetimed relation of their respective actuating mechanismswith the press,and

means for retracting said lifted rolls and rollers 11 MICHAEL ANDREWDROITCOUR.

